Sokoto > Governor Tambuwal praises NAGGW, promises Environmental Sustenance

Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has expressed satisfaction with the scope of work embarked upon by the Great Green Wall Projects in Sokoto State. He stated this when he received the Director – General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Goni Ahmed and his entourage recently in his office.

Aminu Tambuwal noted that Sokoto State has no choice, but to support and embrace the programme because it will benefit the people of the state directly. He also expressed dismay that some states are advocating that the Federal Ministry of Environment be scrapped, assuring that his state will continue to have a Ministry of Environment. He inferred that even before the creation of the NAGGW, Sokoto State saw a reason to re-enact a bill to ensure the control of desertification.

He espoused his appreciation over the selection of Sokoto State as one of the States to benefit from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), indicating that he will address the issue of land allocation both in the State and Local Government Areas.

The DG of NAGGW, Goni Ahmed thanked the Governor for the support offered to the agency through ensuring the passage of the bill for the creation of the agency when he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He further disclosed that Sokoto is one of the States selected as focal point for the GGW project under the FAO. He also explained that the State is under intense pressure from the menace of desertification which can result to environmental degradation and increased poverty, if not tackled. Adding, over 70 million Nigerians have directly or indirectly experienced the negative impact of drought and desertification.

Goni Ahmed solicited for support from the State Government in the provision of land for the GGW programme and the establishment of State and Local Government Committees in line with the GGW Act.

While engaging in a tour of the State, the team visited a project site at the Unguwar Lalle in Sabon Gari LGA of the State  and were impressed by the progress made so far. In the Unguwar Lalle community which has 6km of shelter belt and 2 hectares of orchards, they observed that 1 hectare of the community nursery has been established and it is doing very well.

The Head of Afforestation in the agency, Segun Babatunde Akinola in his remarks said that the agency is receiving maximum support from the communities as they have come to understand the importance of the project and its benefits. He also hinted that the communities choose mostly the species of economic trees from which they have benefits and could derive profit.

Also commenting on the occasion, the Mai-Anguwar of Sabon Gari (Community leader), Sule Maigari praised the efforts of the Nigerian Government towards providing boreholes and trees for planting. He also noted that both the communities and their livestock are benefiting immensely from it, narrating some incidences where hoodlums attack and make away with the submersible engines used for the pumping of water to the tank. He informed that both men and youths now take turns in to guard and protect the borehole sites.

Sule Maigari advised other communities along the GGW corridor to guard jealously the very laudable projects and equipment that the government has put in place for their benefit.

[National Great Green Wall Agency Report]